Russia recently arrested another American national for possession of cannabis–an offense which could bring up to 10 years imprisonment if proven.
Just days after celebrating a prisoner swap that led to the release of American Marc Fogel from Russian jail over marijuana possession charges, Russia’s Federal Customs Service confirmed on Friday it has arrested 28-year-old American K. Byers for “smuggling drugs in significant quantity”.
There has been conflicting reporting regarding the form and type of cannabis found on Byers; with some accounts saying he was detained when cannabinoid-infused marmalades were discovered in his luggage at Moscow Vnukovo airport; Russian state media has described them as CBD gummies.
On February 7, Vnukovo customs officers in Moscow detained a 28-year-old US national who was carrying cannabinoids-laced marmelade into his luggage, according to Russian customs service as reported by state news outlet TASS, CNN reported.
However, TASS announced in its own notice that an American was detained due to possessing “cannabidiol [CBD] gummies”.
“Upon his arrival from Istanbul, Eureka the sniffer dog showed particular interest in one of his suitcases during customs control,” according to TASS. Upon inspection by officers they discovered two plastic jars and one ZIP pack filled with cannabinoid-derived cannaboids found within. Chemical analysis confirmed their presence. According to customs service reports.
Notably, Russian media outlet confirmed that “a man reported that a doctor from the US prescribed his trip-deterring gum.”
According to Reuters, charges related to half-kilo of cannabis found have been brought. But whether that amount accounts for its reported infusion with marmalade remains uncertain.
When reached by Reuters for comment by U.S. Embassy Moscow they stated “Due to privacy restrictions we do not wish to share any further details at this point”.
Fogel was arrested after possessing marijuana obtained legally as an established cannabis patient from Pennsylvania and illegally acquired through Russian officials. Trump administration representatives recently reached an agreement for Fogel’s release under strict conditional release policies enacted after receiving reports that Russian authorities arrested him illegally for this possession charge.
Fogel was recognized by the State Department last year as being wrongfully detained, prompting numerous calls for her diplomatic status change – such as one written to them from over 12 members of Congress that stressed her need for marijuana as necessary to managing pain relief.
Following an historic, multinational prisoner swap last summer that saw several Americans released from detention, lawmakers from both houses of Congress addressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken with their “deepest of concerns” over Fogel’s imprisonment.
Fogel’s situation was likened to that of former WNBA star Brittney Griner, who served time in Russian jails after lawfully purchasing cannabis oil as part of her medical marijuana prescription in Arizona before being freed as part of an earlier prisoner exchange deal arranged by Vice President Biden’s administration.
Russia, in turn, has taken an especially strident stance against any international attempts at reforming cannabis policy through the UN; they even condemned Canada for legalizing it nationwide.
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Russia Announces Arrest Of Yet Another American for Marijuana Use Days After High-Profile Release Of US Medical Marijuana Patient | MEDCAN24
